Tunisian Restaurants Struggle with Repeated Power Outages
The president of the Tunisian Federation of Tourist Restaurants, Habib Ben Moussa, stated on Tuesday that repeated power outages would cost each establishment in the sector around 50,000 dinars, mainly due to spoiled food caused by lack of refrigeration.
Recent Heatwave Exacerbates the Problem
During the recent heatwave, several restaurants were forced to close for four consecutive days, resulting in damaged refrigeration equipment, lost stock, and a loss of customers. To mitigate this issue, Habib Ben Moussa is calling for a simple solution from the STEG (Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas): to notify restaurateurs via SMS before each scheduled power outage, allowing them to protect their equipment and merchandise.
Solar Energy: A Costly Solution
Turning to solar energy storage may seem like an attractive solution, but the cost is prohibitive. Four batteries are required to equip a 5.4 kW installation, representing an expense of nearly 10,000 dinars. The federation's representative is therefore calling on the authorities to reduce customs duties on these equipment, with the goal of lowering the cost to between 5,000 and 6,000 dinars.
A Sector Already Under Pressure
With 397 classified establishments and nearly 20,000 jobs, the recent energy difficulties have come at the worst possible time for the sector. A quarter of the revenue generated goes directly into the state's coffers in the form of taxes and various fees, and the profit margin of some services does not exceed 2%, weighed down by the surge in raw material costs.
Investing in Energy Autonomy: A Risky Bet
The difficulties raised by the Federation represent real investment opportunities for solar and energy storage players in Tunisia: the demand exists, driven by a tourist sector facing recurrent losses, but the initial cost remains discouraging for most operators. A targeted reduction in customs duties on energy storage equipment, as demanded by Habib Ben Moussa, could both relieve restaurateurs and open up a larger market to local suppliers of solar and battery solutions.
